In this edition readers will find:
- Relevant Research: Bullies Appear to Enjoy Bullying
- ACA Hosts Conference Call on Communicating With Congress
- Sign of the Times: The Networked Family
- Conference Clipping: ACA Extends Super Saver Registration Until December 4th
- ACA Establishes Interest Networks for Professional Counselors in Schools, Forensic Counseling and Wellness
- Worth Reading: Debate Rages On Over Admission Testing Influence
- Help Build the ACA Expo
- Reliable Resource: Website Addresses Sexual Behavior of Children and Adolescents
- Advocacy Matters: Writing and Developing Good Grants
- Military Mental Health Webinar Now Posted Online
- Message from ACA President Available on DVD for Your Next Meeting/Conference
- Calendar: Early 2009 Provides Conference Opportunities in ID, ND and CA
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Relevant Research: Bullies Appear to Enjoy Bullying
Research reported in the November edition of Biological Psychology by University of Chicago professor Jean Decety reveals that bullies actually take pleasure in seeing aggressive behavior directed toward others. Scans of the aggressive youth's brains showed that an area that is associated with rewards was highlighted when the youth watched a video clip of someone inflicting pain on another person. Youth without the unusually aggressive behavior did not have that response, the study showed. Observers believes Dr. Decety's findings will help us better understand ways to work with juveniles inclined to aggression and violence.
ACA Hosts Conference Call on Communicating with Congress
Grassroots advocacy is an essential part of any effort to change public policy, and this rule applies to counseling issues as well. ACA intends to make 2009 a banner year for the profession, and we'll need YOUR help to do this.
ACA's Public Policy & Legislation office held a conference call with counselors from across the country on November 20th. Guest speaker Tim Hysom from the Congressional Management Foundation discussed CMF's recent research into the how constituent communication with members of Congress has changed over the years, what it's like now, and what this means for effective communication.
If you'd like to listen to the conference call, it is available as an audio file, along with the PowerPoint presentation here. (Note: You will be prompted to log in if you have not yet done so).
For more information on ACA's public policy objectives for the coming year, or to find out how you can get involved in helping us reach them, contact Scott Barstow at 800-347-6647 x234, or by e-mail at sbarstow@counseling.org.
Sign of the Times: The Networked Family
A national survey conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project reveals that American families are using a wide range of electronic media to stay in touch with each other. Most evident are the "married-with-children" family configurations who display the highest rates of Internet and cell phone usage, computer ownership, and broadband adoption. A quarter of adult survey respondents feel that due to the usage of Internet and cell phones, their families are closer than was the case when they were growing up without the benefit of these communications tools.
Conference Clipping: ACA Extends Super Saver Registration Until December 4th
ACA members wishing to join the nearly 2,000 counseling professionals already registered for the 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition in Charlotte, North Carolina, March 19-23 have two more days to take advantage of the Super Saver registration rate and $55 savings. The original November 30 deadline was extended until Thursday, December 4. A complete listing of Education Sessions and pre-conference Learning Institutes is available on the conference area of the ACA website. Also please note that the free Red Cross Training on Friday, March 20 is filled. Unfortunately, no more registrations can be accepted but the program is offered every year at the ACA Conference. The 2010 Conference will be held in Pittsburgh, PA, March 18-22.
ACA Establishes Interest Networks for Professional Counselors in Schools, Forensic Counseling and Wellness
Three new interest networks were established by the ACA Governing Council at its October meeting to focus on professional counselors in schools, forensic counseling, and wellness. Future editions of ACAeNews will report on the mission and objectives of the new networks and activities these groups are planning for the ACA Conference & Exposition in Charlotte. In the interim, members can contact the individuals listed below for network information:
Professional Counselors in Schools Interest Network
Randy Astramovich (randy.astramovich@unlv.edu)
Kimberley Coelho-Vera (Kimberley.vera@comcast.net)
Wendy Hoskins (wendy.hoskins@unlv.edu)
Jim Whitledge (Jim.whitledge@oakland.k12.mi.us)
Forensic Counseling Interest Network
Victoria Palmisano (vep@buffalo.edu)
Wellness Interest Network
Gerard Lawson (glawson@vt.edu)
Jane E. Myers (jemyers@uncg.edu)
Worth Reading: Debate Continues Over Admission Testing Influence
A Boston Globe article on November 24, 2008 renewed attention to the fight over the use of testing in the college admission process. In one corner, College Board defends admission tests as the best predictor of college success and a guard against high school grade inflation. In the other corner is the growing number (nearly 800) of selective colleges and universities that have adopted a "test optional" admission policy. Stay tuned as this debate is still in the early rounds.
Help Build the ACA Expo
As always, the ACA 2009 Conference & Exposition will attract a terrific lineup of 100 or more exhibitors promoting new and existing products and services to the largest gathering of professional counselors in the world. Do you know of companies, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions or government agencies that should be represented in the Expo? Is there an exhibitor that you've seen at another event that you would like to know more about? Please send your suggestions to ACA's expo sales manager Kathy Maguire at kmaguire@counseling.org or call her at 607-662-4451. View a list of past exhibitors and all exhibit booth rates and information in the 2009 Exhibitor Prospectus.
Reliable Resource: Website Addresses Sexual Behavior of Children and Adolescents
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that the U.S. has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the industrialized world, and more than one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The department's 4Parents.gov website is part of a national public education campaign to provide parents with the information, tools, and skills they need to help their children and adolescents make healthy choices, including waiting until marriage to have sex.
Advocacy Matters: Writing and Developing Good Grants
Increasingly counselors and counseling entities are turning to external funding sources to support innovative and growth initiatives within their institution, organization, or agency. An Education World article, "Show Me the Money," offers tips for first time grant writers and resources for counselors in various delivery settings.
At the GrantStation website, CEO Cynthia M. Adams offers some practical guidance in the development of a grant acquisition strategy, including a list of questions that need to be asked to pinpoint the best sources of future funding.
Military Mental Health Webinar Now Posted Online
The webinar discussion, Treating Returning Servicemembers: Are Mental Health Professionals Ready? which was webcast live in October, can now be accessed on the ACA website. The webinar features Dr. David Fenell, chair of last year's ACA Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, and Dr. Will Wilson, president of the American Psychological Association's Society for Military Psychology, as well as mental health and military graduate students who viewed the webinar live at a Capella University residential colloquium.
Message from ACA President Available on DVD for Your Next Meeting or Conference
ACA President Colleen Logan has a message to share at your next meeting or conference. The approximately 5-minute message, which was taped in October in Washington, DC, highlights recent ACA initiatives and achievements. It can serve as a part of a "Welcome/Opening Session" message. View it online and download, or contact Debra Bass for a free DVD to be shipped to you: dbass@counseling.org.
Calendar: Conferences in ID, ND and CA
January 29-31, 2009
Idaho Counseling Association
Coeur d'AleneResort, Coeur d'Alene, ID
Information...
February 1-3, 2009
North Dakota Counseling Association
Best Western Ramkota, Bismarck, ND
Information...
February 13-15, 2009
California Counseling Association
Santa Clara Marriott, Santa Clara, CA
Information...
ACA divisions, branches, and regions are valuable sources of learning and professional development. Information on events will be posted approximately 8-10 weeks prior. This information is made available to ACAeNews via the ACA master calendar and the various organization websites. Send calendar items to dwilliams@counseling.org. Please provide the sponsor, dates, site and contact person information. Information posted here is restricted to that sponsored by ACA divisions, branches, regions and related organizations.
ABOUT ACAeNews
ACAeNews is published biweekly by the American Counseling Association for the benefit of members and the counseling profession. Any reference to a product, service, activity or listing of a web site in ACAeNews does not imply endorsement by ACA. Any views and opinions are those of the sponsoring organization and may or may not be shared by ACA.
Direct comments, questions and submissions to fburtnett@counseling.org. All submissions will be subject to review by ACA for accuracy, timeliness and relevance to the readership and may be edited to meet space parameters.
Colleen Logan, President
clogan@argosy.edu
Richard Yep, CAE, Executive Director
ryep@counseling.org
Debra Bass, Interim Director of Marketing
dbass@counseling.org
Frank Burtnett, ACAeNews Editor
fburtnett@counseling.org
Don Kenneally, Internet Development / Production
dkenneally@counseling.org
ACA Web site: www.counseling.org
Copyright 2008, American Counseling Association, 5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone: 703/823-9800. Email: fburtnett@counseling.org. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce anything contained in this newsletter as long as the American Counseling Association is identified as the original source of the information.
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